Home » Jazz Musicians » Charles Davis

Charles Davis

Born in Mississippi and raised in Chicago, Charles graduated from the famous DuSable High School, studied at the Chicago School of Music and was a private student of John Hauser.

50’s -- Played in the bands of Billie Holiday and Ben Webster, Sun Ra and Dinah Washington. Performed and recorded with Kenny Dorham with whom he had a musical association that lasted many years.

60’s -- Performed and recorded with Elvin Jones and Jimmy Garrison, Illinois Jacquet, Freddie Hubbard, Johnny Griffin, Steve Lacy, Ahmad Jamal and worked with Blue Mitchell, Erskine Hawkins, John Coltrane, Clifford Jordan, among others. In 1964 he won Downbeat Magazine’s International Jazz Critics Poll for the baritone saxophone. Performed in the musical production of “The Philosophy of The Spiritual--A Masque of the Black” under the direction of Willie Jones and the auspices of Nadi Qumar. Taught at PS 179 in Brooklyn and was musical director of The Turntable, a nightclub owned by Lloyd Price.

70’s -- Member of the cooperative group “Artistry in Music” with Hank Mobley, Cedar Walton, Sam Jones and Billy Higgins; was the co-leader and composer/arranger for the Baritone Saxophone Retinue, a group featuring six baritone saxophones; made European tours of major jazz festivals and concerts with the Clark Terry Orchestra; and toured the USA with Duke Ellington’s Orchestra under the direction of Mercer Ellington. Musical director of the Home of the Id nightclub, presenting such artists as Gene Ammons, Randy Weston, Max Roach, as well as producer of Monday Night Boat Ride Up The Hudson presenting, among others, Art Blakey, George Benson, and Etta Jones. Made TV appearances with Archie Shepp, Lucky Thompson, Ossie Davis and Ruby Dee.

80’s -- Performed and recorded with the Philly Joe Jones Quartet, “Dameronia” and with Abdullah Ibrahim’s “Ekaya” in the United States, Europe and Africa. Toured Europe with the “Savoy Seven Plus 1: A Salute to Benny Goodman.” With his own quartet, performed in Rome, at the Bologna Jazz Festival, Jazz in Sardinia Festival, and the La Spezia Festival. Was the musical director of the Syncopation nightclub. Performed in the movie, “The Man with Perfect Timing” with Abdullah Ibrahim. In 1984 he was named a “BMI Jazz Pioneer.”

90’s -- Musical librarian for Spike Lee’s “Mo Better Blues”; performed at the Jamaica Jazz Festival with Dizzy Reece and returned to perform with Roy Burrowes; was in the Apollo Hall of Fame Band accompanying such stars as Ray Charles, Joe Williams, Nancy Wilson, among others. Toured Holland saluting the music of Kenny Dorham; was the guest artist at the 12th Annual North Carolina Jazz Festival at Duke University. Featured soloist of the Barry Harris Jazz Ensemble and performs in clubs with the Barry Harris/Charles Davis Quartet. Recorded and toured Europe and Japan with the Clifford Jordan Big Band. Was the tenor saxophonist and a major contributor of musical arrangements with Larry Ridley’s “Jazz Legacy Ensemble” which appeared at the Senegal Jazz Festival, performed concerts and conducted clinics, seminars and master classes. This ensemble also appeared in an ongoing concert series at the famed Schomberg Center for Research in Black Culture. Was a featured artist at the Amman, Jordan Jazz Festival, arranged by the American Embassy. Was also the featured artist in clubs and concerts in Paris, Toulouse and Hamburg. Appeared at the Williamstown Theatre Festival in an original production of Eduardo Machado’s “Stevie Wants to Play the Blues,” directed by Jim Simpson. Performed in the Three Baritone Saxophone Band with Ronnie Cuber and Gary Smulyan, which toured Italy, appeared at the New Orleans Jazz Festival, the 1998 JVC Jazz & Image Festival at Villa Celimontana in Rome, and Ronnie Scott’s Jazz Club in London. Charles was also a featured soloist at the 1998 Chicago Jazz Festival. In June 1999, he performed with Aaron Bell and the Duke Ellington Tribute Orchestra at the Jackie Robinson “Afternoon of Jazz” Festival in Norwalk, CT. Featured artist at the 1999 Jazz & Image Festival at Villa Celimontana in Rome.

Read more

Tags

4
Liner Notes

Sun Ra at Inter​-​Media Arts, 1991

Read "Sun Ra at Inter​-​Media Arts, 1991" reviewed by Howard Mandel


On April 10, 1991, the night of this concert at Inter-Media Art Center in Huntington, Long Island, Sun Ra was near the apogee of his earthly transit. Having led his transformative iterations of his Arkestra around the globe for an unlikely if not unimaginable four decades, the visionary composer, keyboardist, conceptualist and cosmologist was, even though in recovery from a stroke, at the peak of his powers, two years from breaking free of his local orbit entirely. He ...

4
Album Review

Charles Davis: For The Love Of Lori

Read "For The Love Of Lori" reviewed by Hrayr Attarian


Saxophonist Charles Davis' paean to his late wife, For the Love of Lori, is more of a musical celebration of her spirit than a requiem. Sure, there are moments of intense sorrow and nostalgic melancholy but they are enveloped in positive, swinging creativity. On “What'll I Do?" for instance, Davis' wistful soliloquy is filled with reserved anguish and enveloped with elegant lyricism. Trumpeter Joe Magnarelli's muted, soothing tone marks his intricate improvisation while trombonist Steve Davis' soft, resonant ...

6
Album Review

Charles Davis: For The Love Of Lori

Read "For The Love Of Lori" reviewed by Dan Bilawsky


Coping with loss is never easy. Some are completely defeated by the death of a loved one, choosing to retreat into isolation. Others prefer to reflect, celebrate the life that was lived, and play on. Saxophonist Charles Davis is part of the latter group. Davis lost his wife--Lori Samet-Davis--in April of 2012, but he didn't let that loss break his will to create. This album, a straight ahead display of artistic expression and affection, is given up in tribute to ...

562
Interview

Charles Davis: In the Air

Read "Charles Davis: In the Air" reviewed by Terrell Kent Holmes


Saxophonist Charles Davis has spent the past few decades making history with such luminaries as Billie Holiday, Kenny Dorham, Abdullah Ibrahim, Clifford Jordan, Dinah Washington and Freddie Hubbard. Although Davis might be best known as one of the baritone players in the Sun Ra Arkestra, his many recordings and excellent performances outside of the Arkestral context have helped to establish him as a truly great musician. At 75, an age where other players might be slowing down a bit, Davis ...

248
Album Review

Charles Davis: Land of Dreams

Read "Land of Dreams" reviewed by Elliott Simon


In the shrinking world of “legendary" jazz performers, all star sessions and one-offs are the norm. This release is a rare treat that gives a real look-see at saxophonist Charles Davis in the context of his working band. Davis, with his baritone sax, was part of the seminal Jazz Composer's Orchestra and early groups fronted by Sun Ra. Among a host of other top-flight ensembles, he also anchored the reed sections for saxophonist Ben Webster and trumpeter Kenny Dorham. His ...

253
Album Review

Charles Davis: Blue Gardenia

Read "Blue Gardenia" reviewed by Jim Santella


Baritone saxophonist Charles Davis started out with Sun Ra in the early 1950s. Along the way, he’s paid his dues in the big bands of Clark Terry, Thad Jones/Mel Lewis, Illinois Jacquet and Lionel Hampton. He first played “Blue Gardenia” with Dinah Washington in the late ‘50s. As a leader, he’s only issued a few recordings: Dedicated To Tadd (West 54, 1979), Super 80 (Nilva, 1982), and Reflections (Red, 1990).

Now 70, Davis continues to exercise his ...

674
Interview

Charles Davis: Sweet Storyteller

Read "Charles Davis: Sweet Storyteller" reviewed by R.J. DeLuke


There’s a difference between the elder statesmen in jazz and the newer firebrands, no matter how talented. One is the former’s ability to take their time to tell a story. They’ve been around life and they’re not in a rush. Like Dexter was. And Prez.

Out of that mold is 70-year-old Charles Davis, displaying his rich tenor sax sound and strong baritone sax work on his new CD Blue Gardenia, titled as much for his admiration for Dinah ...

Read more articles
158

Performance / Tour

Charles Davis & His Quartet at Creole Restaurant (NYC)

Charles Davis & His Quartet at Creole Restaurant (NYC)

Source: Michael Ricci

Combine the exquisite dining experience of “Creole" with the flavor of Internationally known Jazz Artists; toss in the nostalgia of an ambience found in elegant 'Supper Clubs' and you have our “Jazz Legacy Series". Brownstone Entertainment Complex, LLC; bringing Jazz back 'Uptown', to what was once the 'spawning ground' of the 'Be-bop' Era, and its' Traditions... “Creole" Music Supper Club, in association with Brownstone Entertainment Complex, LLC, proudly present: “The Jazz Legacy Series". This series will feature many 'World-Class' Players, ...

133

Music Industry

DREAMWORLD featuring CURTIS FULLER, RICHARD WYANDS, CHARLES DAVIS, VIRGIL JONES AND OTHERS IN BALTIMORE.

DREAMWORLD featuring CURTIS FULLER, RICHARD WYANDS, CHARLES DAVIS, VIRGIL JONES AND OTHERS IN BALTIMORE.

Source: All About Jazz

SUNDAY, MARCH 11, 2001, AN ENSEMBLE CALLED DREAMWORLD WILL PERFORM AT THE DUNBAR HIGH SCHOOL IN BALTIMORE, MARYLAND. THE GROUP FEATURES SPECIAL GUEST: CURTIS FULLER - TROMBONE, VIRGIL JONES - TRUMPET, CHARLES DAVIS - TENOR AND BARITONE SAXOPHONES AND LEROY WILLIAMS - DRUMS. THE CORE OF THE BAND IS THE LEGENDARY RICHARD WYANDS - PIANO, PAUL BROWN - BASS, ERIC KENNEDY - DRUMS AND VOCALS AND KELLY SHEPHERD - ALTO AND SOPRANO SAXOPHONES. THE CONCERT IS A BENEFIT FOR THE ...

Photos

Music

Recordings: As Leader | As Sideperson

Sun Ra at...

Self Produced
2015

buy

For The Love Of Lori

Reade Street Records
2014

buy

Land of Dreams

Smalls Records
2007

buy

Blue Gardenia

Reade Street Records
2003

buy

Videos

Similar

Get more of a good thing!

Our weekly newsletter highlights our top stories, our special offers, and upcoming jazz events near you.